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Frontispiece from Thomas Sprat's "The History of the Royal Society of London"

1667
Not on view
Bust portrait of Charles II on a low column being crowned by an angel with figures at left and right within an open vaulted interior. Fame crowns the bust with a wreath, Bacon is seated at right holding his chancellor's bag, William Brouncker points to the inscription on the pedestal; there are books and scientific instruments on the walls in the background, with arms of the society above; landscape and country house seen through arch in the background, with man looking through telescope suspended from a tall pole; frontispiece to Thomas Sprat, "The History of the Royal Society of London."

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Frontispiece from Thomas Sprat's "The History of the Royal Society of London"
  • Etcher: Wenceslaus Hollar (Bohemian, Prague 1607–1677 London)
  • Artist: After John Evelyn (British, 1620–1706 Wotton, Surrey)
  • Author: Related author Thomas Sprat (British, ca. 1635–1713)
  • Sitter: Charles II, King of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (British, London 1630–1685 London)
  • Sitter: Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St. Albans (British, 1561–1626)
  • Sitter: William Brouncker, 2nd Viscount Brouncker (British, 1620–1684)
  • Date: 1667
  • Medium: Etching, only state
  • Dimensions: Sheet (trimmed and inlaid): 8 in. × 6 3/8 in. (20.3 × 16.2 cm)
    cut within the platemark
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.3.1475
  • Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints

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